Q9450 Gaming build.

[twattle]

Hey folks.

Making a shopping list for a friend. Wanted to know if theres any improvements to be made.

Heres the list:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
Board: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
RAM: 4GB (2 x 2 GB) Corsair XMS2 DHX PC2-6400 (4-4-4-12)
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 32MB
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 4870 (if the rumours about performance are true)
PSU: Corsair TX650W
Cooler: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283

Probably gonna go with a Lian Li case for the looks.
My main concern are compatibilty/bottlenecks and price improvements.

Best regards.

PS: I don't live in the US so i can't buy from newegg.com altho i find the newegg links useful for reference.

 

[Why_Me]

Hey folks.

Making a shopping list for a friend. Wanted to know if theres any improvements to be made.

Heres the list:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
Board: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
RAM: 4GB (2 x 2 GB) Corsair XMS2 DHX PC2-6400 (4-4-4-12)
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 32MB
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 4870 (if the rumours about performance are true)
PSU: Corsair TX650W
Cooler: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283

Probably gonna go with a Lian Li case for the looks.
My main concern are compatibilty/bottlenecks and price improvements.

Best regards.


PS: I don't live in the US so i can't buy from newegg.com altho i find the newegg links useful for reference.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200280+107172615&name=Intel+P43%2fP45 <--- Get yourself a P45 motherboard, they are new, and a step up from the P35 boards. Better bios, and more features.

btw, that heatsink is very large, and the pushpin sysem that it comes with sucks, so try and get yourself that retention bracket kit so you can avoid the pushpin set up. Also make sure you get yourself a thermal compound like MX-2 or Arctic Silver 5.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019 $6.99
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

 

[twattle]

It is a P45 board in my topic, heres a newegg link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128344

That retention bracket might pose a problem tho as I haven't seen anywhere you can get it in my country.
Should be possible to order one from the US tho so maybe its not that bad.

Thanks for the tip on the thermal compound.

 

[Why_Me]

It is a P45 board in my topic, heres a newegg link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128344

That retention bracket might pose a problem tho as I haven't seen anywhere you can get it in my country.
Should be possible to order one from the US tho so maybe its not that bad.

Thanks for the tip on the thermal compound.

Oops...I missed the P45 part in that link.... LOL

You can order that retention bracket right off the Xigmatek site, if not, just go ahead and get the Artic Freezer Pro...it's a good basic heatsink, it's easy to work with, and it comes pre applied with that MX-2 thermal compound...not only that but they sell that heatsink just about everywhere in every country. "Tiger Direct" sells it for cheap, and they ship internationaly. Since your not in the states I would skip the Xigmatek, becouse without that retention bracket that heatskink is junk...it doesn't allow you to apply enough pressure to make a good contact with your cpu.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134 $26.99
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail

 

[thatguy2001]

Hi

I live in Australia, and I have recently purchased a Xigmatek S1283 from the US but wasn't able to get the Rentention bracket as I couldn't find anyone who sells it and ships overseas.

Will another rentention bracket from another cooler work? I've heard the TRUE retention bracket may work. Anyway, I have a Gigabyte X48 DS4 board.

If I need to buy a Arctic cooler instead then so be it, but what is the difference in temps that both coolers can achieve?

Thanks.

 

[Why_Me]

Hi

I live in Australia, and I have recently purchased a Xigmatek S1283 from the US but wasn't able to get the Rentention bracket as I couldn't find anyone who sells it and ships overseas.

Will another rentention bracket from another cooler work? I've heard the TRUE retention bracket may work. Anyway, I have a Gigabyte X48 DS4 board.

If I need to buy a Arctic cooler instead then so be it, but what is the difference in temps that both coolers can achieve?

Thanks.

http://www.xigmatek.com/distributor/where_to_buy_pacific.php <--- Australia XIGMATEK dealership.

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/lgboforulula.html <---That's the other bolt up kit that works with the XIGMATEK

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm <--- That's how good that Xigmatek is. .

 

[twattle]

Hurray! I can get the Thermalright LGA775 Bolt Thru kit where i live. Problem solved

 

[thatguy2001]

Thanks. Looks like I will need to order it from the site above as there are no Australian dealers I can find who stock it. I just hope there isn't any type of modifications I may need to do to get it to fit properly.

That australian dealer is hopeless. I think i will order it from sidewindercomputers. Thanks for the help and links.

Just one other question, If I was to put another cooler on for the time being, is it easy enough to remove a cooler and put another one on? I mean is there any special cleaning you should do to remove any thermal paste from the CPU etc?

Thanks.

 

[twattle]

Just noticed that the listed P45 board (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128344) uses an 8-pin CPU power connector that i don't think the Corsair 650TX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005) is equipped with.

Do i need to find a PSU with an 8-pin CPU power connector or can you get a converter?

 

[Why_Me]

Thanks. Looks like I will need to order it from the site above as there are no Australian dealers I can find who stock it. I just hope there isn't any type of modifications I may need to do to get it to fit properly.

That australian dealer is hopeless. I think i will order it from sidewindercomputers. Thanks for the help and links.

Just one other question, If I was to put another cooler on for the time being, is it easy enough to remove a cooler and put another one on? I mean is there any special cleaning you should do to remove any thermal paste from the CPU etc?

Thanks.

A hair dryer (blow dryer) and a towel work fine for that. The mobo has to be removed to install that Xigmatek, and when you do...put a little lubricant on the inside of the holes on the rubber fan mounts...it helps make putting that fan on alot easier.

 

[Why_Me]

Just noticed that the listed P45 board (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128344) uses an 8-pin CPU power connector that i don't think the Corsair 650TX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005) is equipped with.

Do i need to find a PSU with an 8-pin CPU power connector or can you get a converter?

It will work just fine.

1 x Main connector (20+4Pin)
1 x 12V(4/8Pin) <-----that one
8 x peripheral
8 x SATA
2 x Floppy
2 x PCI-E

 

[twattle]

Cheers mate